HOULTON, Maine — The ball and puck is about to drop for boys and girls basketball and ice hockey teams as the the winter sports season officially begins this weekend.
Teams were busy squeezing in practices around the Thanksgiving holiday, and also played in several exhibition games to get ready for the new season.
The Southern Aroostook girls begin their state title defense in Class D North Friday at 4 p.m. at East Grand of Danforth. In other girls games, Hodgdon hosts Shead; Easton travels to Ashland and Washburn is at Van Buren, all at 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Hermon is at Caribou, for a 1:30 p.m. game, while Washington Academy is at Presque Isle, 3 p.m.; and Fort Fairfield travels to Katahdin at 3:30 p.m.
In boys basketball action, Houlton heads to Mars Hill Friday to take on Central Aroostook, Shead travels to Hodgdon, Easton is at Ashland and Washburn is at Van Buren. All of those games tip off at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Washington Academy is at Presque Isle and Hermon is at Caribou. Both of those games are at 4:30 p.m.
In hockey, Camden Hills travels to Aroostook County for a pair of games. The Windjammers take on Presque Isle Friday at 6:45 p.m., and face the Houlton-Hodgdon-Southern Aroostook-Katahdin Black Hawks Saturday at 1 p.m.
For wrestling, Caribou heads to Bucksport for a multi-team meet at 10 a.m.
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- Ben Grant of Houlton takes a free throw Saturday during an exhibition game against Gray-New Gloucester. (Joseph Cyr)
